Course Overview:
Using a motif of Heroes, Helpers, and Hope, students in the MJ Language Arts 1 course will acquire the reading, writing, language, and speaking/listening skills necessary for success in college, career, and beyond. Students will become critical readers and thinkers as they delve into fiction and informational texts within the course. They will also learn to effectively write narrative, informational, and argumentative pieces and present their ideas clearly and cohesively.
Note: This course is not designed for ELL (English Language Learners) students. ELL students may enroll in this course ONLY if they have adequate mentor support at their home school and are able to fulfill all course requirements.
Prerequisites:
Grade 5 Language Arts
Required Materials:
You will need the following items to complete this course:
- Disk space on your computer as well as an external device to back up your files (flash drive, external hard drive, CD–Rom, etc.)
- Word processing and presentation software
- Research materials which are typically found online or at public and school libraries
Student-supplied Materials:
Reading materials are optional. Students may choose to read a novel from the list or a short story linked within the course.
- Students select one novel below:
- Wonder by RJ Palacio
- Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine
- Schooled by Gordon Korman
- A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engel
- Storm Runners (book 1) by Roland Smith
- Advanced students must select one additional novel below:
- All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot
- Knots On My Yo-Yo String by Jerry Spinelli
- or, choice of an autobiography of a person born after 1850
Free Downloads:
- Adobe Flash Player
- Java
- Windows Media Real Player
- Apple iTunes
Syllabus:
Segment I:
Module 1: Heroes in our Midst
- 00: Module One Pretest and Checklist
- 01: Develop an Idea
- 02: What Is Theme?
- 03: A Character Changes
- 04: Summarize It!
- 05: Comparing Different Mediums
- 06: What Does It Mean?
- 07: Resource Help
- 08: Implicit or Explicit Evidence?
- 09: What Is the Big Idea?
- 10: Summarize It!
- 11: Module One Review and Discussion-Based Assessment
- 12: Module One Exam
Module 2: Unlikely Helpers
- 00: Module Two Checklist
- 01: Check Your Source
- 02: Choose Your Words
- 03: Organize Ideas in Informational Articles
- 04: Gather Your Information
- 05: Cite Your Sources
- 06: Introduce Your Ideas
- 07: Connect Your Ideas
- 08: What's Your Big Idea?
- 09: Wrap Up Your Ideas
- 10: Kick It Up a Notch
- 11: Module Two Review and Discussion-Based Assessment
- 12: Publish Your Work
Module 3: Triumph of Hope
- 00: Module Three Checklist
- 01: The Narrator of a Story
- 02: Explain Yourself
- 03: Organize Your Narrative Story
- 04: Begin Your Narrative
- 05: Dialogue in a Story
- 06: Use Transitions
- 07: The Middle of Your Story
- 08: The Big Finish
- 09: Module Three Review and Discussion-Based Assessment
- 10: Kick It Up a Notch
- 11 Segment One Exam Part One
- 11 Segment One Exam Part Two
- 11 Segment One Advanced Exam Part One
- 11 Segment One Advanced Exam Part Two
Segment II
Module 4: Everyday Heroes
- 00: Module Four Pretest and Checklist
- 01: One View
- 02: Another View
- 03: Spell Out Your Meaning
- 04: Your Idea In Pictures
- 05: Painting With Words
- 06: Two Views Side by Side
- 07: Pieces to the Puzzle
- 08: The Power of the People
- 09: Module Four Review and Discussion-Based Assessment
- 10: Module Four Exam
Module 5: Unexpected Helpers
- 00: Module Five Pretest and Checklist
- 01: Reading Between the Lines
- 02: Larger Than Life
- 03: Nice To Meet You
- 04: A Matter of Perspective
- 05: The Turning Point
- 06: Another Layer of Meaning
- 07: The End of the Journey
- 08: No More Perplexing Pronouns
- 09: Pronoun Problems Solved
- 10: That’s A Wrap
- 11: Module Five Review and Discussion-Based Assessment
- 12: Module Five Exam
Module 6: Hope for the Future
- 00: Module Six Checklist
- 01: Making Arguments That Matter
- 02: Finding Effective Support
- 03: Organize Your Argument
- 04: Introduce Your Argument
- 05: Run-ons and Fragments
- 06: Support Your Argument
- 07: Conclude Your Argument
- 08: Module Six Review and Discussion-Based Assessment
- 09: Perfect Your Final Draft
- 10: Segment Two Exam Part One
- 10: Segment Two Exam Part Two
- 10: Segment Two Advanced Exam Part One
- 10: Segment Two Advanced Exam Part Two
